diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index 8688b52d13..12ddd15d6f 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -559,9 +559,18 @@ def _launch_tui():
     tui_dir = PROJECT_ROOT / "ui-tui"
 
     if not (tui_dir / "node_modules").exists():
-        print("TUI dependencies not installed.")
-        print(f"  cd {tui_dir} && npm install")
-        sys.exit(1)
+        npm = shutil.which("npm")
+        if not npm:
+            print("npm not found — install Node.js to use the TUI.")
+            sys.exit(1)
+        print("Installing TUI dependencies…")
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            [npm, "install", "--silent"],
+            cwd=str(tui_dir), capture_output=True, text=True,
+        )
+        if result.returncode != 0:
+            print(f"npm install failed:\n{result.stderr}")
+            sys.exit(1)
 
     tsx = tui_dir / "node_modules" / ".bin" / "tsx"
     if tsx.exists():
diff --git a/scripts/install.ps1 b/scripts/install.ps1
index d644c6221f..80ed53cce8 100644
--- a/scripts/install.ps1
+++ b/scripts/install.ps1
@@ -721,6 +721,20 @@ function Install-NodeDeps {
         }
     }
     
+    # Install TUI dependencies
+    $tuiDir = "$InstallDir\ui-tui"
+    if (Test-Path "$tuiDir\package.json") {
+        Write-Info "Installing TUI dependencies..."
+        Push-Location $tuiDir
+        try {
+            npm install --silent 2>&1 | Out-Null
+            Write-Success "TUI dependencies installed"
+        } catch {
+            Write-Warn "TUI npm install failed (hermes --tui may not work)"
+        }
+        Pop-Location
+    }
+
     # Install WhatsApp bridge dependencies
     $bridgeDir = "$InstallDir\scripts\whatsapp-bridge"
     if (Test-Path "$bridgeDir\package.json") {
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index c04dc4a9d5..b44f538fa1 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -916,6 +916,16 @@ install_node_deps() {
         log_success "Browser engine installed"
     fi
 
+    # Install TUI dependencies
+    if [ -f "$INSTALL_DIR/ui-tui/package.json" ]; then
+        log_info "Installing TUI dependencies..."
+        cd "$INSTALL_DIR/ui-tui"
+        npm install --silent 2>/dev/null || {
+            log_warn "TUI npm install failed (hermes --tui may not work)"
+        }
+        log_success "TUI dependencies installed"
+    fi
+
     # Install WhatsApp bridge dependencies
     if [ -f "$INSTALL_DIR/scripts/whatsapp-bridge/package.json" ]; then
         log_info "Installing WhatsApp bridge dependencies..."